Quantifying the spatiotemporal variations of basin-scale surface water (SW)–groundwater (GW) interactions is vital for the conjunctive management of water resources in the basin. In this study, an integrated hydrological model (SWAT-MODFLOW) is used to simulate the SW–GW system in the Huashan Basin. The numerical model was calibrated and validated using the streamflow observations of the watershed outlet and the groundwater levels of the long-term monitoring wells from 2016 to 2020 in the study area. The model results show that the SWAT–MODFLOW can achieve a better fit for the streamflow discharge, compared with the results in the single SWAT model, with R² (coefficient of correlation) and NSE (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient) of 0.85 and 0.83, respectively. The water table fitting results indicate that R² and RMSE can reach 0.95 and 0.88, respectively. The water budgets analysis demonstrates that the average rate (0.5281 m³/s) of GW abstraction to SW is larger than the rate (0.1289 m³/s) of SW recharge to GW. Moreover, the exchange rate of SW and GW gradually reaches a peak value from June to August, and the lowest value is shown in April, for each hydrological year. Based on the IPPC6 CanESM5 dataset supplied by the Canadian Climate Centre, the regional precipitation scenario subject to climate change was predicted by the ASD (Auto Statistical Downscaling Model) a statistical downscaling method, under the climate scenarios of SSP2_4.5 and SSP5_8.5. The SW–GW interaction pattern was modeled under the future scenarios in the study area. The current (2016–2020) average annual rate of the SW–GW interaction is considered as the base value. Subject to the SSP2_4.5 scenario, the average exchange rate of the SW recharge to GW is 0.1583 m³/s, which is an increase of 22.8%. The average exchange rate of the GW discharge to SW is 0.5189 m³/s which is a reduction of 0.017%. Subject to the SSP5_8.5 scenario, the average exchange rate of SW recharge to GW is 0.1469 m³/s, which is an increase of 14.7%. The average exchange rate of the GW discharge to SW is 0.5953 m³/s, which is an increases of 12.7%. The results can assist in water resource management in the basin, by identifying potential locations of nutrient transport from the aquifer to the river, as well as changes in spatial variability under future climatic conditions.

Rapid economic and social development has created significant ecological and resource problems in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, making it necessary to identify ways of implementing sustainable regional development. The interactions between water, energy, food, and ecology are characterized by a high degree of relevance and complexity. In studying the relationships between the four systems in depth and choosing representative indicators for each system, a comprehensive development model of the water-energy-food-ecology (WEFE) system in the BTH region has been established. The coupling coordination degree model was used to analyze the coupling synergy relationship between the WEFE systems in the BTH region from 2001 to 2020. The primary contributing elements determining the development of linked synergy in the WEFE system were investigated using a gray correlation model. According to the findings, Beijing’s total coupling coordination development level shows a gradual upward trend and is in excellent coordination; Hebei has progressed the most, experiencing a significant change from little coordination to good coordination; and Tianjin has had the least improvement, only improving from basic to good coordination. The exploitation of water resources and ecological protection of the environment are the aspects that have the greatest impact on the WEFE system. Additionally, the linked and synergistic growth of the WEFE system in the BTH region is significantly influenced by economic, social, and technological advancements in the industrial and agricultural sectors. The coupling coordination development of regional WEFE systems, which takes into consideration the synergistic optimization of many subsystems, is provided by this study as a scientific foundation.

Ecological zonation research is typically conducted in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. In order to enhance the structure and function of regional ecosystems and monitor their quality, it is crucial to investigate shifts in the coverage of vegetation and the factors that contribute to these shifts. The goal of this study is to assess the spatial and temporal variations in vegetation covering and the partitioning of its drivers in the Minjiang River Basin on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau between 2000 and 2022. The Mann-Kendall test, Hurst index, Theil-Sen median trend analysis, and other techniques were used to look at the features of temporal and geographical changes in regional vegetation coverage as well as potential development trends. The climatic influences leading to the spatial differentiation of vegetation NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) were quantified through partial and complex correlation analyses of NDVI with temperature and precipitation. The results of the study showed that (1) the NDVI of the watershed performed well with a stable upward trend, indicating that the vegetation growth was generally good; (2) the spatial analysis showed that the coefficient of variation of the NDVI reached 0.092, which highlighted the stability of the vegetation change in the region; (3) the future development trend of the vegetation coverage in the watershed is low, and there is a certain degree of ecological risk; and (4) the main driver of the vegetation coverage is the non-climate factor, distributed in most parts of the watershed; (5) the climate driver shows localized influence, especially concentrated in the southwest, downstream and part of the upstream areas of the watershed.